ALLEGED MURDER

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1606, 12 February 1925, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER

HODGSON BEFORE THE COURT.

VERDICT OF INSANE

(By Telegraph. Press Association.'* CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. i

The trial took pla.ee yesterday- afternoon before Mr Justice ,-Adams in ; the Supreme Court of Robert Tipon Hodgson, who.was charged-iwith having miirdeTeU his sen Frederick Tipon Hodgson at Dromore on the night of January Ist. Mr A. T. Donnelly appeared for the Crown and the prisoner was represented by Mr W. J. Hunter.'

The evidence for the Crown was on the same lines a* that given in the Lower Court. His Honour 3aid the Crown Prosecutor frankly admitted •that the evidence of medical experts for the defence would be accepted by 'the Crown... He suggested that provided the jury found prisoner was inV sane at the time the crime was committed, their verdict should be couched in the following terms:: "We find accused not guilty and we< further find •that accused was insane at the time; of., commission of the offence and declare him acquitted on the ground Of insanity." The effect of such a verdict, said His Honour, would ba that accused would be detained because of .bis insanity and because he murdered, his son.

Without leaving the box: .the ■ jury returned a verdict in terms suggested: by His Honour, stating that accused will be ordered to be kept in Paparua Prison until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice was known. '■ :: '■'■